Poker Tournament Rules

1. Every poker tournament may have slightly different rules - pay attention to what the poker director says at the beginning.

2. Poker tournament rules are straightforward. Every player starts with a set amount of chips. As play progresses, players who bust out will leave the table, and this process continues until there is only one person left.

3. There is a buyin fee for each poker tournament.

How To Play Texas Holdem in 5 basic Steps

1. 2 - 11 players sit at a poker table. Prior to the game, a high card is dealt to determine who gets the dealer button. The player directly to the left posts a small blind, and the player two spots to the left of the dealer button posts the big blind.

2. Everybody is dealt two "hole cards", and the first round of betting occurs. You may call, fold or raise your hand in what is called "preflop action". The player in the small blind will have a discounted entry and the big blind can either check or raise his hand assuming the pot has not been raised yet.

3. 3 community cards called the flop are dealt next. These can be used by all players. In this round and all rounds after, players to the left of the dealer button must act first to check or bet. The dealer button is last to act in all rounds after "pre-flop", deeming this position an advantage.

4. After the round of betting, the "turn" or "4th street" is dealt to add to the community cards. Again, here another round of betting.

5. Finally the "river" card or "5th street" is dealt, which is the final community card. Now all players left will have 7 cards to choose from, 2 of their own and the 5 community cards to make the best 5 card hand. Now a final round of betting occurs. Assuming everybody does not fold to a bet, all remaining players flip the cards up to see who has won the pot.